Registering mechanism



April 26, 1938. w; BANcRoFT ET AL 2,115,357

REGISTERNG MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 26, 193&w. BANcRor-'T ET AL y 2,115,357

REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr.26, 11938 UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE 2,115,357 REGISTERING MEoHANlsMApplication November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,924

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to registering mechanism, particularly forregistering photographic negatives or positives in holders to preciseposition therein so that when the holders are .5 subsequently used inconnection with photo composing machines, the images will be locatedWith the utmost accuracy, a condition of special importance when colorreproduction work is being done. One of the objects of the invention isto provide a construction of the registering equipment such that itsparts are fixed definitely and rigidly in position as a feature of itsmanufacture and cannot be altered or adjusted subsequently thereto,whereby precision is built in and unalterable; another object is theprovision of such construction that a series of holders of differentsizes may be registered as to their negatives without changing,relocating or adjusting any of the parts of the mechanism; anotherobject is to provide means by which the holder is denitely positionedwithout possibility of error, on the registering table; another objectis to provide a holder with positioning devices xed on plates, thelatter being movable with respect to the holder until precisely locatedby a gage and then fixed immovably on the holder; another object is toprovide cooperating positioning devices on the registering table and onthe holder of such construction that cooperation of said devices isaccomplished by movement of the holder in a plane parallel to thesurface of the table bearing the registering lines; other objects willbe hereinafter pointed out or will otherwise appear in connection withthe following description of the embodiment of the invention shown inthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of aregistering table,

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the table with a negative holder in positionfor registering thereon,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section approximately on line 3 3, Fig. 2, y

Fig. 4 is a Vertical Section approximately on line 4 4, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a similar section approximately on line 5 5, Fig. l.

The registering table has a rectangular top frame I, supported at aconvenient height for the operator on legs 2 (Fig. 3) and arranged, ifdesired, to be tiltable thereon at the point 3, the

rear edge of the top frame being moved up to tilted position andheldthere by the lever 4 pivoted to the frame and provided with notchesto engage the horizontal leg brace 5. The frame is shown in horizontalposition. It is also provided with a depending light shield or hood 6,in or near the bottom of Which may be provided a source of light, itsrays being directed in a well known manner upwardly through the plate 'Iforming the top proper of the table, which plate, herein called theglass plate or top, may be of glass or any other suitable transparent ortranslucent material. Conveniently, it may be of glass which is groundon its under surface.

This glass top 'I is rectangular in shape and is laid loosely on the topframe I, the latter being recessed on its four inner sides at 8 (Figs. 4and 5) so that the top surface of the glass will be slightly higher thanor at least as high as the frame. In practice, the glass is supported onthin wood inserts 9 laid in these recesses. It is held in relativelycentered positionY with reference to the frame by horizontal screws i@threaded in the frame, between the inner ends ofv which screws and theedges of the glass are placed thincopper sheets II to prevent injury tothe glass, these sheets being bent under the glass, as shownY in dottedlines in Fig. l and slight recesses being formed in the wood strips tohold them in place.

The glass 1 is provided with registering lines, as the centering line I2extending from back to front and referred to as a vertical line, thisline being very accurately produced in any suitable manner as bycutting, grinding or engraving. It is also provided with registeringhorizontal lines I3 at right angles to the vertical line I2 andextending from side to side of the frame. These registering lines may befilled with a suitable pigment or the like to make them easily visible.The horizontal lines I3 are spaced so that each becomes a horizontalcentering line for one of a series of sizes of negative holders andnegatives, as will be made clear hereinafter. Extending over the frontedge of the frame I and generally parallel thereto is a bar or bridgeI4, the central span of which is of rigid and unyielding constructionand is, as shown, spaced above 'the said edge slightly more than thethickness of a negative holder to allow the latter to extend under thebridge. The ends of the bridge extend downwardly from the horizontalposition thereof to form legs I4 which are flanged at their lower endsto accommodate screws I5 by which the bridge is secured to the tableframe I.

The rear face of the bar I4 is provided with a positioning bar I6preferably of hardened steel, which is set in a suitable recess in thebar I4 and held in place by vertical and horizontal screws IB (Fig. 5).When lined up parallel to the length of the bar I4, holes are drilledfor the accomthese lines being extensions The clipkfor the slot I1adjustable features, which modation of pins I6 (Fig. 1) so that the barI6 is held immovable on bar I4. The bar I6 forms the rear edge of thebar I4 and is provided with locating devices in the form a pair ofspaced dowel slots or recesses I1 and I1,`the former slot being slightlywider than the cylindrical dowel pin on the negative holder, which pinis to enter said slot, and the latter slot being an exact it for itspin. `'I'o ensure firmly holding the negative holder while registeringthe negative, two hori- Zontal hooks or clips I8 may be mounted insuitable bosses I9 in the bar I4. These clips each comprise a screwshank 2B and a pivoted hookshaped member adapted to embrace the dowelpin or similar positioning or locating devices on the holder whenpositioned in the dowel' slots.Y

Theserclips are shown in open position in Fig.V 1 and in closed, dowelembracing position in Fig. 2. It is obvious that` turning the knurlednut 2t located on the front side of the boss I9 and screw threaded onthe shanks 20, will draw these hook members against the rear of thedowels and anchor them tightly in the dowel slots I1 and I 1. is placedat an angle so that its action will vnot Vonly draw the corre- `spondingdowel against the bottom wall of the slot I1', but will also'draw itlaterally against'the inside wall of said slot. Thus, even if the dowelpinA is not an exact fit in the slot I1 because of wear, for example,its positioning will be definite and precise. The negative holder isthus positioned with extreme accuracy at all times.

When the bridge or bar I4 is secured by the bolts I5 on carefullysmoothed pads on the frame I, it is lined up, as by a suitable gage, sothat the bottoms'of the dowel slots in the bar I are exactly parallel tothe horizontal lines I3 on the glass table top and theV side walls ofsaid slots are perpendicular thereto. Reference lines I 2 and I 3 arenow marked on the table frame I, of the line I2 and one of the lines I3engraved on the glass top 1. In this position holes are drilled in thebridge and table frame I for the accommodationvof driven pins I5 whichresult in making the bridge immovable and non-adjustable on the table.In this way, the Yrear edge of they positioning bar I6 and particularlythe bottoms of the dowel slots I1, I1', and the table top lines I3 areexactly parallel and may not be changed by the operator from suchcondition of parallelism, with the single exception vthat the glass top1 may be moved slightly by manipulating the screws I0. This adjustmentis necessary only when assembling the glass on the table in the usersplant, because the two parts are necessarily shipped separately, andwhen applying a new glass 1 to the table frame on account of accidentalbreakage. The reference lines I2?, I3 on the' table frame ensure Vtheproper positioning of the glass. WhenV the glass is properly located,the screws I0 are never adjusted in'connection with the regular andnormal operationY of the register table and the latter may be yreferredto as one Vwhichhas no Y is sturdily rbuilt and pinned together so, thatit is at all times absolutelyV accurate and cannot get `out or` beadjusted out of order. The same is true of the negative holder, theembodiment of whichshown in plan in Fig. 2 will now be described.

The negative holder may be of any suitable construction so far as itscapability of holding and centering a negative is concerned, the termAny negative jecting upwardly from one of the uppermost sides of theframe when the latter is laid on the glass top 1 with its negative inproper contact with said top, said dowels being rof such diameter andlocation as to t accurately and cooperatively within the dowel slots I1,I1 previously referred to. The holder also should be provided withdevices for moving the negative in the plane of the top for registeringwith the line I2 on the top and one of its lines I3, the registering orindi-V cating lines with which the negative is customarily provided. Asuitable negative holder may be of the construction shown in LettersPatent of the United States, No. 1,978,493, issued to kW. C. Huebner onOctober 30, 1934. The negative frame 2l is rectangular in form anditwill be understood that there will be ynormally a series of holders ofdiierent sizes usable on` the register table; there is illustrated indot and dash Y lines in Fig. 2 a holder 2| of larger size than theVwhich where it contacts with the glass 1 is pro' vided with a rubbervacuum strip 26; above the negative as it rests on` the glass top 1 isan inner frame 21 and'a surrounding frame 2| contacting with a rubbervacuum device 28 secured to the inner frame 21. The back frame 2I issecured to the frame 25 by a series of screws 29 (Fig 2). Thisconstruction does not require detailed description herein, as it will beclearly understood by those skilled in the art and isv or may be of theYgeneral constructionY of the device shown in the patent abovementioned.

The holder of this invention, however, is provided with locating devicesin the formvof dowel quired in commercial operation. Each plate'car-Vries two spaced dowels 30 and is loosely attached to the holder by thescrews 32, the holes therefor;

in the plate being slightly ,larger in diameter than thediameter of thescrew Shanks, and the holder isfprovided with a negative or master glass22 having cross markings thereon such as the marks 33, Fig. 2, the glassbeing approximately centered inthe holder and held there by the screws24. .The holder and the plate are then placed on the table glass 1 anddrawn forwardly in the plane of the table top to cause the dowels 30 toenter the dowel slots I 1, I1. 'I'hen the clips VI8 are manip-ulated tocause their hooks to embraceV the dowels 38, as shown in Fig. 2, and theknurled nuts 20 are turned to cause the dowels to be firmly seated andheld on the bottom of the slots I1, I1 and the right hand dowel I1 to bepositioned also against the inner wall of the slot I1; Vthat is, thewall nearest to and parallel to the of the glass top. 'I'he cross-marks33 are then pins will project upwardly as;

vertical line I2 observed and if they do not register accurately 75-lwith the vertical line I2 on the'glass 1 and with one of the horizontallines I3 thereon, the holder is moved relatively to. the seated dowels30and dowel plate 3I by striking it with a lead' hammer or otherwisemoving it until accurate registration of the markings has beenaccomplished. `Then the screws 32 are tightened and nally holes aredrilled and pins 34 inserted to immovably fasten the dowel plate 3| tothe holder frame 2|. The holder is then turned degrees andthe oppositeplate 3l and its dowels are positioned in the same manner, after whichthe two side plates and dowels vare individually adjusted in the sameway, all being pinned in nal precise positions. The holder is thusreversible and may be used in any of four positions. So far as theholder is concerned, the registration of a negative is accomplishedwithout any movement or adjustment of any part, the negative itselfbeing the only element movable, and the precision of the holder ismaintained in all four positions on the table to which the holder may beturned.

It will be observed that the horizontal crossmarks 33 of the negativeplate 22 shown in Fig. 2 register with the third line from the bottom ofthe series of lines I3 of the glass table top. The holder shown in dotand dash lines on Fig. 2 would carry a negative to register with thesixth line from the bottom. The lines I3 are drawn, ci course, tocorrespond with the series of holder sizes commercially found desirable,and sincethey are commonly made in sizes differing in inches, the linesI3 are correspondingly drawn one inch from each other. Holders varyingone inch in size with respect to the negatives therein actually varyone-half inch as to the position of their frame sides measured from themedian line of the holders. Therefore, the dowels 30 are capable ofbeing positioned at one-half inch distances from the horizontal crosslines of the negatives in the holders or in other words, from thehorizontal median line of the holden To accomplish this, the dowelplates 3I are each made reversible and the dowels 30 thereon are offsetone-quarter inch from the longitudinal center line of the plate. This isclearly shown in Fig. 2, in which the dowels 30 on the top and bottomplates are located on the inside of or offset with respect to the saidlongitudinal center or median lines of the plates 3 I say one-quarterinch inside and the dowels in the side plates are located on the outsideof said median lines. If, in assembling, anyone of the plates 3l isturned 180 degrees, the screw holes for the screws 32 will accommodatesuch reversal since theyare symmetrically arranged with respect to saidlongitudinal center line, but the dowels will be moved one-quarter inchoutside or inside, as the case may be, of said center line, the dowelsbeing thus moved one-half inch or twice the amount of olfset from theirprevious position with respect to the horizontal center line of thenegative. In this way, one-half inch variations of the dowels arepossible to accommodate one inch variations in the sizes of the seriesof holders. Of course, reference to inches, one-half inch andone-quarter inch is for the purpose of example only, any unit ofmeasurement and any fraction thereof being employed without departingfrom the scope and.

spirit of this invention.

When the glass top 1 Aand the bridge I4 have been positioned inthemanner set forth with the latter pinned to the table frame I by the pinsI5' and the bar I6 pinned to the bridge I4 by the pins I5", theverticalline VI2 of the glass will be precisely normal to or at rightangles to the bar I6 and particularly to the bottoms of the positioningslots I1, I1 therein and the horizontal lines I3 will be exactlyparallel to the bottoms of said slots. Nothing is adjustable on the partof the operator in the normal use of the device.

Moreover, when the negative holder has its dowel' closed position, theknurled nuts 20' are tightened` and the holder is located in a singledefinite position on the table top. There now only remains for theoperator to manipulate the negative positioning screws 24 to cause exactregistration ofA the negatives cross lines 33 with the vertical line I2and the appropriate horizontal line I3 of the glass top 1. The negativeis now properly registered and the clamps I8'may be' withdrawn, theholder removed from the table and applied to a photo composing machineprovided with positioning devices such as dowel holes which correspondwith the dowels on the holder. In this way, eX- act location on thephoto composing machine of the image on the negative is assured and itmay be duplicated with extreme precision as many times as may benecessary for color reproductionsV or other purposes, as will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art. i The "dowel plates 3l may beprovided with screw holes 35 (Fig. 2) for securing the holder to thecomposing machine and with vacuum holes 36 and passages 31 (Fig. 3) forco-operation with suitable vacuum producing mechanism commonlyassociated with the photo composing machine, it being understood thatwith four dowel plates on a holder, only one hole 36 is adapted to beused, the others being temporarily corked or plugged in any suitableway. It will also be understood that such vacuum operates between therubber dam26 in f uum device 28 to cause atmospheric pressure to force aclose contact of the negative against the press plate of the photocomposing machine.

It is to be understood that the dowels and dowel slots may beinterchanged or replaced by other suitable positioning devices and ingeneral that the terminology of this specification is not to beinterpreted as limiting the invention, the scope of which is dened bythe appended claims.

We claim: I

1. In a register device for photographic negatives and the like incombination with a series of negative holders of different sizes, eachnegative therein having vertical and horizontal registering marksthereon, of a table including a glass plate, means lfor definitelypositioning anyone of these series of holders on the table at a singleAside thereof, a vertical line formed on the glass and extending normallywith respect to the positioning side of the table whereby the verticalVside thereof across one edger thereof, said lbar beingV provided withlocating devices, in combination with a negative holder, adjustingmeansy thereon, whereby anegative may be adjusted in its holder, saidholder being provided with locating devices to rcooperaterwithY the'locating devices on the bar, a vertical centering line Yformedon the topand a plurality of parallellhorizontal centering lines also formed onthe top, whereby the holder may bev located in asingleV definiteposition on the table top Vand its negative may be adjusted to registerits reference marks with the vertical centering line and one ofVthe-,horizontal centering lines on the table top.

3. A register device comprising a table,.in cluding a top therefor,apositioning bar xedly secured to the table and extending fromV side toside thereof across one edge thereof, said bar being provided with apair of locating devices, in combination with a -negative holder,adjusting means thereon, whereby rak negative maybe adjusted inits'holder, said holder Vbeing provided with a pair of locating devicesto cooperate with the locating devicesfon the bar, a centering lineformed on the top perpendicular to the line joining the Ypair oflocating devices of the bar and a plurality of parallel centering linesalsoformed on the top, perpendicular to the said first mentioned line,whereby the holder may be located in a single deiinite position on thetable top and its negative may be adjusted to register its referencemarks with the vertical centering line and one of the horizontalcentering lines on the table top.

4. A register device comprising a table, including a top therefor, apositioning bar lxedly secured toV the Ytable andextending from side toside thereof across one redge thereof, saidy bar being provided withYlocating devices, in combination with any selected one of a series ofVnegative holders of different sizes, adjusting means whereby a negativemay beadjusted in its'holder, said holder being provided ,with locatingdevices to cooperate with the locating devices of the bar, a verticalcentering-line formed onthe top and a plurality of parallel horizontalcentering lines also formed on the top, the horizontal lines beinglocated to correspond each to the center lineof .a different one of theseries of holders, whereby any selected holder may be located in asingle definite position on the table top and its'negative may bevadjusted to register its reference marks with the vertical centeringline and the horizontal centering rline which corresponds to the centerline of the selected holder.

5. A register device comprising a, table, including a glass toptherefor, screws fo-r moving and holding said top in position on saidtable, a rigid bridgeV or bar doweled to the table and extending fromside to side thereof in the vicinity of the lower, horizontal edge ofsaid top, said bar being provided 'with a positioning bar .pinnedVthereto and having dowel slots in its rear edge, in combination with aYnegative holder provided with dowels to cooperate with said dowelslots, hooks provided in said b-ridge for embracing said dowels whenseated in said slots and screws associated with said hooks for drawingsaid dowels rmly against the bottom walls of said slots and holding themin such position. Y

'6. A register device comprisinga table, a glass top thereon providedwith register' lines and a rigid bridge or-.bar -extending from side toside of the table across one ,edge thereof, said-bar beand adjusting itto ingk non-adjustably fixedat each end to said` table and beingprovided with non-adjustable locating means, in combination with anegative holder comprisinga frame provided with locating meansnon-adjustably fixed thereto, the holder being positioned von theY tabletop with its locating means in cooperative position with respect to the`locating means of said bridge and means for adjusting the negative inits holder to register the negative with the register `lines of theglass top, no part of the register table and its bridge beingadjustableV and kno part ou. the negative frame being adjustable. v Y

7.`A precision register device comprising a table having'a glassr top, arigid bridge or bar extending from side to side of the tablek across oneedge thereof and being pinned iixedly to each end to said table, saidbridge being provided with locating devices, said glass being providedwith a vertical register line normal to said bridge and a horizontalregister line parallel thereto, in combination with a negativeholder-comprising a frame and locating devices immovably ixed in saidframe, the holder being positioned on the glass with its locatingdevices in the locating devices of the bridge to square the holderprecisely with the bridge and means for adjusting the negative jin theholder to register the negative with the'lines on the glass, no part ofthe table or its bridge being adjustable and no part of the negativeframe being adjustable.

8. A plrecision register device comprising a table having a'glass top,extending from side -to side of the table across one edge thereof andbeing pinnedl iixedly at each end to said table, said bridge beingprovided with positioning dowel slots, said glass being provided with avertical register line normal to said bridge and a horizontal registerline parallel thereto, holder comprising a frame and positioning dowelsimmovably fixed in said frame, the latter being positioned on the glasswith dowel slots of the bridge to precisely with the bridge and squarethe holder ative with. the lines on the glass, no part of the table orits bridge being adjustable and no part of the holder being adjustable.

9'. In a register device, in combination with a i table having a glasstopprovided with cross lines and a bridge or bar extending across theglass top, said bar being provided with positioning on one side of saidframe and having positioning dowel pins extending outwardly from theblock at right angles to the frame and in position engaging the saiddowel slots of the bar, said block being doweled or pinned to said framein its position on the'glass top with the dowels seated in the dowelslots and the positioning marks' of the glass in register with the crosslines of the glass top. f

10. A negative holder comprising a rectangular frame, means for holdinga negative therein gaged position, av locating plate on one side of theframe and provided with a pluralityv of spaced locating devices in theform of dowel pins-secured to said plate and extending upwardlytherefrom perpendicularly to the plane of the frame, inA combinationwith a register table comprisingl a top provided with gage a rigidbridge or bary in combination with a negative its dowels in the meansfor adjusting the negative in the holder to register the neg-V lines, apositioning bar provided with dowel slots corresponding in dimension andlocation to said dowel pins, said locating plate being secured to theholder frame in its gaged position as determined on said register table.

11. A negative holder comprising a rectangular frame, means for holdinga negative therein and adjusting it to gaged position, a plurality oflocating plates, each on one side of the frame and each provided with aplurality of spaced lo-l cating devices in the form of dowel pinssecured to said plate and extending upwardly therefrom perpendicularlyto the plane of the frame, in combination with a register tablecomprising a top provided with gaged lines, a positioning bar providedwith dowel slots, corresponding in dimension and location to said dowelpins on each of said plates, each of said plates being individuallysecured to the holder frame in gaged position as determined on saidregister table.

12. A negative holder comprising a rectangular frame, means for holdinga negative therein and adjusting it to gaged position, four locatingplates each on one side of the frame and each provided with a pluralityof spaced locating devices in the form of dowel pins secured to saidplate and extending upwardly therefrom perpendicularly to the plane ofthe frame, in combination with a register table comprising a topprovided with gaged lines, a positioning bar provided, with dowel slots,corresponding in dimension and location to said dowel pins on each ofsaid plates, each of said plates being individually secured to theholder frame in gaged position as determined on said register table.

13. A negative holder comprising a rectangular frame, means for holdinga negative therein and adjusting it to gaged position, a locating plateon one side of the frame and provided with a plurality of spacedlocating devices in the form of dowel pins secured to said plate andextending upwardly therefrom perpendicularly to the plane of the frame,said pins being oiset to or at one side of the median line of saidplate, in combination with a register table comprising a top providedwith gaged lines, a positioning bar provided with dowel slotscorresponding in dimension and location to said dowel pins, saidlocating plate being secured to the holder frame in either of tworeverse positions in its gaged position as determined on said registertable, whereby the distance to the dowels measured from the median lineof the holder, which line is parallel to said first mentioned medianline, is varied to the extent of twice the offset distance of thedowels.

14. A register device for photographic negatives and the like comprisinga table provided with a glass top, a positioning element xedly'securedto the table at one edge thereof, said element being provided with xedlocating means common to a series of negative holders of differentsizes, the upper surface of the glass being in a plane lying above allportions of the table except the said element for accommodating negativeholders o-i such large size as to extend without obstruction beyond thelateral edges of the glass, in combination with any one of a series ofnegative holders of different sizes each having adjusting means thereonfor adjusting the negative in its holder and each being provided withfixed locating means for cooperation with the locating means von saidelement and vertical and horizontal centeringY lines on the glass forcentering said negatives.

15. A register device for photographic negatives comprising a tablehaving a vertical centering line and a plurality of horizontal centeringlines in parallel relation, a positioning element provided with locatingmeans common to all sizes of negative holders and xed to the table inprearranged relation to the vertical and horizontal centering lines, aplurality of negative frames or holders,

said frames being of different sizes for holdingV negatives of differentsizes and being provided with identical locating means for cooperationwith said first named locating means to fix the relationship of theholders with respect to the centering lines of the table and forcooperation also with identical locating means on the photo composingmachine to which the holder is transferred after its negative has beenregistered, vertical and horizontal markings on each negative, means oneach holder for moving the negative relatively to the holder in ahorizontal direction when the holder is positioned upon the table, tobring one oi said markings on the negative into register with saidvertical line of the table and means on the holder for moving thenegative vertically to bring the other of said markings into registerwith one of said horizontal lines on the table.

16. A register device for photographic negatives as in claim 15 whereinsaid horizontal centering lines are spaced from each other and from thelocating means of the table variable distances aocorcling to the sizesof the negatives to be registered.

1'7. A register device for photographic negatives as in claim 15 whereinthe horizontal markings on the negatives are arranged according to thesize of the negativeV for cooperation with the appropriate horizontalcentering line of the table.

WILFRED BANCROFT. MAURITZ C. INDAHL.

